A hearing survey in diabetes mellitus.

A sample of 50 diabetics was compared with a control group matched for age and sex. Twenty-two of the diabetics were insulin-dependent. Subjects and controls were examined otologically and then tested audiometrically using pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and tone decay after the method of Owens. No significant difference was found between the two groups on pure tone audiometry and speech testing showed all diabetics and controls to be normal. A statistically significant incidence of type-2 tone decay was found in the overall group of diabetics at 2000 Hz. This may reflect early presbycusis.